Lorenzo admits title has lost its shine after Rossi injury
Added on Friday, June 18th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo admits title has lost its shine after Rossi injury
Jorge Lorenzo believes that the gloss has been taken off the MotoGP championship following the loss of Valentino Rossi but that doesn’t stop him wanting to finish at the top of the rider’s standings.
With Rossi out of action for up to six months after breaking his right fibia in Mugello, Lorenzo is now the hot favourite to win the MotoGP championship, holding a 25-point lead over Pedrosa in the standings.
But Lorenzo admitted that the championship has lost its spark this season, admitting that he would rather win the title with Rossi on the circuit.
“Winning a title’s always great but without him maybe the championship has lost a bit of value,” he admitted.
“I want to be world champion with Valentino on the track.”
Lorenzo did however question whether the pressure got the better of his Yamaha teammate, with the prospect of the Spaniard winning his third consecutive race on Rossi’s home circuit potentially getting to the world champion.
“When he lost the [2006] championship to [Nicky] Hayden, he lost because he crashed in the last race .He lost to Casey [Stoner in 2007] because Casey had a better bike and better tyres.
“The situation this year was different – he had a team-mate with the same bike and he lost two races. At least before his crash, I was in front of him.”
He also added that he had every sympathy for Rossi after his own experience of crashing and being injured.
“I have been injured a lot – I know the pain you feel and how sad you are in hospital, so for this I have a present for him on the grid and on the podium – an opportunity to make him smile.”
